education and training of staff of the competent administrative, law enforcement and judicial bodies, secondments of these categories of staff from other Member States, in order to ensure an effective and uniform application of common standards on return and the respect of obligations under international instruments affecting the treatment of returnees, and enhance cooperation, as well as missions to assess the results of return policies in third countries.

The new Directive focuses on establishing common standards for signalling and control systems, telematic systems for freight services, the operation and management of rolling stock intended for international freight, and staff qualifications.

The Council took note of a Greek note concerning common rules for the protection of personal data within the framework of the third pillar.

There is a lack of adequately trained and motivated staff to administer efficiently the application of common transport rules; transport statistics are often poor.

These concern the rights and obligations of liaison officers, rules for data files, rules of procedure of the joint supervisory body, staff regulations, rules on confidentiality, the financial regulation, the headquarters agreement, the protocol on privileges and immunities and the agreements on the privileges and immunities applicable to liaison officers.

Theft of and illegal trade in radioactive and nuclear material - preparation of a joint comprehensive assessment of the situation regarding the extent, the development and the threat potential of the illegal handling of radioactive and nuclear substances, including an analysis of types of offenders and their modus operandi; - cooperation regarding the protection and safeguarding of existing radioactive and nuclear stocks; - setting up of rapid coordinated reporting channels in an appropriate framework including all Member States concerned; - mutual assistance of prosecuting authorities in investigations by means of harmonized measures and mutual support in terms of staff, equipment and organization ...[+++]; - intensification of border controls by equipping the competent authority with appropriate surveillance installations and the carrying out of exit controls and controls of hazardous goods at ports and airports; Art. 7A of the Treaty on European Union remains unaffected; - penalties for the theft of and illegal trade in radioactive and nuclear material, and - regulations on the forfeiture of illicit proceeds from such crimes.